The Green Bay Packers took a pass rusher in the first round of this draft, but the team could still use help in that department before the start of the season. A former first-round pass rusher just came on the free agency market.
Lukas Van Ness has a chance to be a solid starter for the Packers in the future, but he’ll need some time to get acclimated to the rigors of professional football. Rashan Gary is trying to come back from an ACL injury. The Packers could add another solid piece on the edge to pair with Preston Smith.
Several top choices for the Packers have already been gobbled up in free agency. The Packers don’t have the cap to make a trade for an elite Edge rusher. Yannick Ngakoue is a possible target for the Packers, but they will face tight competition for his services from multiple rivals.
The Green Bay Packers could look at a recent Cowboys cut
The Dallas Cowboys recently released a former first-round pick, defensive end Takk McKinley. He was taken 26th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 draft. McKinley was signed by the Cowboys in March but was released Friday. He’s had several NFL stops since being drafted by the Falcons.
McKinley wouldn’t likely be a starter for the Packers, but he could prove his worth as a rotational piece. He has 20 sacks in his NFL career. According to Pro Football Focus, McKinley has had decent grades historically for his run defense. He earned a 65.5 grade for his run defense last season. That could be a plus for a Packers defense that struggled against the run last year, giving up the 26th most rushing yards for the 2022 season.
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